Sludge/math metal trio The Ditch And The Delta are streaming the first single off their upcoming studio debut, Hives In Decline. Listen to the track, titled “Dread Spectacle”, below courtesy of Decibel. Guitarist/vocalist Elliot Secrist said of the song:

‘Dread Spectacle’ is the last song we wrote for our album Hives In Decline, although the tuning and material for the bridge, had been written almost a decade ago. The lyrical content is based on two different lines and two ideas that are inextricably linked. The first line being, ‘We can’t blame it on fire flung from hands of an angry god.’ This idea is simply noticing humanity’s effect on the world and everything in it. Being aware of impending doom and aware of how we contribute to it, no matter how ‘green’ we think we are.

The second line of most importance is ‘Body of mine, don’t fail me now.’ This is the small scale version of the first idea. Speaking to myself about the destruction of my own body. I can’t blame it on anybody or anything else. It’s a realist and pessimist mantra, no god, no fate, just actions and the inevitable consequences.”

The new album is scheduled for release on May 12th via Battleground Records. Pre-orders for the LP are available here.